Dear Friends from all over the world,

We are alive and as well as can be even though youthfully challenged. Jan is somewhat slower. Gil, as you know, is always about ten steps ahead of her. She is painting like a dream. Don’t know where these images are coming from but they are beautiful. She is also painting big paintings. Not as big as years gone by but big, 46×48 etc. Did a show recently and found Lars Sponberg exhibiting. He is 88 and says he doesn’t know how to quit. We now have a model of longevity. We love the shows and the artists who do them.

Speaking of big, we are buying back a 48×60 seascape from Dallas. Harold Erbs, CEO of Qwest Corp. commissioned it in the early 80s. It was in his office on the sixth floor of the bldg. He had Jan’s painting on the wall with 24 clocks with times of every zone in the world. I think it was before Qwest went public. Harold is no longer with the company and they ask if we would buy it back and we have. That means we have a huge painting for sale.

Oh, almost forgot why I’m writing this letter. We will be doing a few shows this year.

COLUMBUS ARTS FESTIVAL. Columbus, Ohio. June 7-10, 11:30 to 10:00. Last day is ends at 6:00. It’s right down town in Columbus next to the river. We’ll be staying in the downtown Holiday Inn on Main Street just four blocks from Jan’s double booth, #251/253, located on the corner of Civic Center Drive and Main Street. You could mapquest it or go to the Arts Council email at www.gcac.org. Hope we see some of you Akron and Cleveland folks.

ANN ARBOR’S SOUTH UNIVERSITY ART FAIR. Ann Arbor, Michigan. July 18-21, 10:00 to 9:00. Saturday it’s over about 5:00 or so. Here’s a tip many thanked me for last year. The Forest Street parking garage, 650 South Forest Ave. is never full and is two blocks from Jan’s booth. We can carry purchased paintings a city block for pick up, easy in and out. Jan’s booth is #159/160 at the corner of South University and East University in beautiful downtown Ann Arbor. The show is so much easier to do and visit than before. You’ll no doubt enjoy it.

ART ON THE SQUARE. Lake Forest, Il. North of Chicago. Sept. 2-3, 10:00 to 5:00. This is a maybe. Jan is high on the wait list. We’ll do it if called.

ARMONK OUTDOOR ART SHOW. Armonk, N.Y. Just north of the big city. Sept. 29-30. This show is an old fashioned artist friendly community event. The proceeds go to the local library and about 700 people volunteer to help handle everything. One couple brought their New York Gallery hoping friends who were astounded at the quality of the art at the show. Lynn and Mike Cox, who we introduced and are now loving life together, will be helping us. Can’t say enough about this show. Jan’s booth will probably same as last year, #10 at the front of the show. See their website for more information, www.armonkoutdoorartshow.org. You’ll love it.

OUTDOOR ARTS FESTIVAL OF THE BRUCE MUSEUM. Grennwich, Conn. October 6-7 10:00 to 5:00. Haven’t heard the final from them but assume Jan will be there. We haven’t done the show before but have heard it is small and delightful. You’ll have to get more information from their website www.brucemuseum.org. It’s fun doing shows in the east. We get to see some friends we normally do see. That big seascape mentioned above may be the thing for this show.

Now that’s over and I can chat a bit. Gil has macular degeneration. Left eye has the wet which is now being medicated with a shot a month. Right eye is slowly getting worse. Both my parents went blind from it. I have expected problems and, til now, have had good eye sight. With everything, we take what we get. When I was young, mother told me this might happen. Jan, as I said, is slowing a bit. Still has her sense of humor. When she’s happy, she can be funny. We will do what we do for as long as we can. We get help with shows now and can do so for quite some time. Now all that is dependent on Jan’s creativity. I just marvel at what she can do. See the website, www.dorerstudio.com.

Dorer Studio is going electronic. I will be writing monthly, and have been, in the website, dorerstudio.com. Just click on “Gil says” to get the news. It is a new age and we must join it. I love the story on our dear friend, Walter. It’s the March 2007 musing. I think it is hilarious and we loved him for his kindness and love of us.

We now have paintings in the Chelsea Gallery. Town folks haven’t had the chance to see Jan’s work so now they can. It is downtown Chelsea across from the Common Grill. Love the owners. We do plan on selecting more galleries to handle Jan’s work as we grow older. If you have suggestions, let us or them know. They can see the www.dorerstudio.com to see if they want her work. As you can see we are slowly phasing out of many art fairs to a few.

Our son taught me to pile the grass clippings on an area where I plant tomatoes and peppers. We now have great tomatoes without weeding. I still mow our lawn, two acres, and Jan says I do it with a big grin on my face. It’s a bubba thing of power sitting on the tractor. Guys will understand. Got some good new jokes but Jan won’t let me tell them. Maybe, when I see you I’ll tell, if I still remember them.

Kids are doing fine. Cyndy is a psycho therapist in Woodstock, Ga. She is really good at it but not with her father. She does help him think straight occasionally. Bob is second trumpet with the Minnesota Orchestra formerly known as the Minneapolis Symphony. It is an extremely good orchestra. They just recorded all of Beethoven. London critic said of one of the symphonies that it had never been played better. On the last trip there they filled six out of the seven thousand seats at the Prince Edward Hall. Grandkids are doing fine. Jenna ask her mother, “why does grandpa think he is a kid?”

Our Purple Rose group is alive and well. We buy out the theater on the first night of every new play, four times a year. People come here 4 to 6, followed by the Common Grill for dinner and to the theater. It’s a blast and this time we have an exciting blend of characters joining us.

I think I’ve caught you up with all. Do hope life is treating you well and that health and happiness are in order. Be kind to others. Somewhere it’s written that its a good idea.

Love Gil with Jan approving.